Merck and Pfizer to Present Updates for Avelumab at the European Cancer Congress 2015

Merck and Pfizer today announced that six abstracts on studies evaluating the potential role of programmed ...

Merck and Pfizer today announced that six abstracts on studies evaluating the potential role of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibition and the safety and efficacy of the investigational cancer immunotherapy avelumab* will be presented at this year’s ECC in Vienna, Austria, September 25–29, 2015.

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New data will be presented in urothelial (e.g. bladder), mesothelioma and gastric/gastroesophageal cancers. Additional NSCLC and ovarian cancer data from Phase Ib trials build on those previously presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).1-10 As the promise of immuno-oncology continues to grow, these new data help to further the understanding of the potential role of avelumab for patients suffering from cancers with high unmet need.

Despite continued progress in bringing new treatments to patients, there remains a significant unmet need across many types of cancer. For example, the incidence of gastric cancer remains a major public issue in Western and Asian countries, and there is a continued need to better understand the disease biology to provide patients with the most appropriate and effective treatment.11 For some cancer types, such as mesothelioma, the incidence rates are rising worldwide,12 with limited treatment options currently available for patients.

“Our clinical program for avelumab continues to accelerate, and we remain on-target to initiate up to six pivotal trials this year,” said Dr Luciano Rossetti, Head of Global Research & Development at Merck’s biopharmaceutical business Merck Serono. “As we investigate avelumab across a broad range of tumor types, Merck and Pfizer are working together diligently to analyze and present data at important congresses like ECC, to share the latest knowledge and understanding of this immune-checkpoint inhibitor with the medical community.”

Currently, more than 1,000 cancer patients have been treated with avelumab in the Phase I/Ib clinical program (JAVELIN Solid Tumor), and more than 15 tumor types are under investigation.

“This is an exciting time for the Merck–Pfizer alliance. Working together, we have made substantial progress in advancing the clinical evaluation of avelumab as both a single agent and as part of combination therapy in patients with difficult-to-treat cancers,” said Dr Mace Rothenberg, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for Pfizer Oncology. “We believe that the talent, resources, pipeline products, and commitment that each partner brings to this collaboration position us well to become potential leaders in the field of immuno-oncology.”

Avelumab is under clinical investigation and has not been proven to be safe and effective. There is no guarantee any product will be approved in the sought-after indication by any health authority worldwide.

Data to be presented at ECC are part of the JAVELIN clinical trial program, an extensive international program exploring the use of PD-L1 inhibition with avelumab to treat multiple types of cancer.

The JAVELIN clinical trial program includes a Phase III open-label, multicenter trial to investigate avelumab versus docetaxel in patients with Stage IIIb/IV or recurrent NSCLC that has progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy (JAVELIN Lung 200); an international Phase II trial to investigate avelumab in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (JAVELIN Merkel 200); a Phase Ib, open-label, multicenter, multiple-dose trial designed to estimate the maximum tolerated dose and select the recommended Phase II dose of avelumab in combination with axitinib in patients with previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (JAVELIN Renal 100); an international Phase I trial to investigate avelumab in patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors (JAVELIN Solid Tumor); and a Phase I trial to investigate avelumab in Japanese patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors, with an expansion cohort in Asian patients with gastric cancer (JAVELIN Solid Tumor Japan). The clinical development program for avelumab now includes more than 1,000 patients treated across more than 15 tumor types, including NSCLC, breast cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, urothelial cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, renal cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, melanoma and mesothelioma.

*Avelumab is the proposed International Nonproprietary Name (INN) for the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (MSB0010718C)

Avelumab (also known as MSB0010718C) is an investigational fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody. By inhibiting PD-L1 interactions, avelumab is thought to potentially enable the activation of T cells and the adaptive immune system. By retaining a native Fc-region, avelumab is thought to engage the innate immune system and induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). In November 2014, Merck and Pfizer announced a strategic alliance to co-develop and co-commercialize avelumab.

JAVELIN Clinical Trial Program for Avelumab

JAVELIN is an extensive international clinical trial program exploring the use of PD-L1 inhibition with avelumab to treat multiple types of cancer. The JAVELIN clinical trial program includes a Phase III study in Stage IIIb/IV or recurrent NSCLC designed to assess the efficacy and safety of avelumab compared with docetaxel in patients who have experienced disease progression after receiving a prior platinum-containing doublet therapy (JAVELIN Lung 200). It also includes: a Phase Ib, open-label, multicenter, multiple-dose trial designed to estimate the maximum tolerated dose and select the recommended Phase II dose of avelumab in combination with axitinib in patients with previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (JAVELIN Renal 100); an international Phase II open-label multicenter trial to investigate the clinical activity and safety of avelumab in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) who must have received one line of chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic MCC (JAVELIN Merkel 200); an international Phase I open-label, multiple ascending dose trial to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, biological and clinical activity in patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors (JAVELIN Solid Tumor); and a Phase I trial to investigate the tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics, biological and clinical activity of avelumab in Japanese patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors (JAVELIN Solid Tumor Japan), with an expansion part in Asian patients with gastric cancer.

Merck–Pfizer Alliance

Immuno-oncology is a top priority for Merck and Pfizer. The global strategic alliance between Merck and Pfizer enables the companies to benefit from each other’s strengths and capabilities and further explore the therapeutic potential of avelumab, an investigational anti-PD-L1 antibody initially discovered and developed by Merck. The immuno-oncology alliance will jointly develop and commercialize avelumab, and advance Pfizer’s PD-1 antibody. The companies will collaborate on up to 20 high-priority immuno-oncology clinical development programs, including combination trials, many of which are expected to commence in 2015.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world®

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of healthcare products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines, as well as many of the world’s best-known consumer healthcare products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck of Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading company for innovative and top quality, high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses – Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Life Science and Performance Materials – and generated sales of € 11.3 billion in 2014. Around 39,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company – since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70% interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials.

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Pfizer Disclosure Notice

The information contained in this release is as of September 11, 2015. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about avelumab (MSB0010718C), the potential of immuno-oncology, Pfizer’s and Merck’s immuno-oncology alliance involving anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 therapies and clinical development plans, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical study commencement and completion dates as well as the possibility of unfavorable study results; risks associated with interim data, including the risk that the final results of the Phase I study for avelumab and/or additional clinical trials may be different from (including less favorable than) the interim data results and may not support further clinical development; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and, even when we view data as sufficient to support the safety and/or effectiveness of a product candidate, regulatory authorities may not share our views and may require additional data or may deny approval altogether; whether and when drug applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for any potential indications for avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on the assessment by such regulatory authorities of the benefit–risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

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